indoor mall

The Mall at University Town Center is starting a weekly summertime “fun club” for kids.

The free two-hour events will be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon in the Dillard’s wing of the mall. Club days will feature a theme and free activities such as children’s crafts, face painting, balloons, live music and character meet and greets.

“We created the Summer Fun Club with kids in mind, and we’re excited to introduce a new experience for the entire family to enjoy,” said Lauren Clark, marketing and sponsorship director, in a statement. “The wide variety of events we have lined up are sure to keep kids active and learning throughout the season.”

The mall’s first summer fun club event on June 15 will feature a Hawaiian-themed luau party with grass skirts, lei making and hula dancing. The lineup for this month also includes “Baking with Great American Cookies” on June 22 and “Magic Fun” on June 29.

The $315 million, 880,000-square-foot Mall at University Town Center at Interstate 75 and University opened in October 2014. The high-end enclosed mall has not been immune to the struggles plaguing brick-and-mortar retail. More than 30 stores have joined the mall since its grand opening but at least 11 have closed.

Events and experiences have been cited repeatedly by industry experts as the keys to keeping brick-and-mortar retail relevant. This is the second weekly event that the shopping center has held in recent months. The mall also hosts a fitness club at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays in partnership with its activewear retailers.